Lock



B. S. FALK LOCK Filed NOV. 6, 1956 67Ma//MUM/ MHNf/A Patented Jan. 1l, i938 UTED SATES LOCK Bernard S. Falk, Leominster, Mass., assignor to Independent Lock Company, Fitchburg, `Mass.,

a corporation of Massachusetts Application November 6, 1936, serial No. 109,414

5 Claims.

Y This invention relates to locks, particularly padlocks, and has as one of its objects to provide greater security by so constructing the lock that the shackle when in its locked position is substantially completely concealed and thereby "protected against the attacks of tools which might be used for its destruction.

More specifically it is an object of this invention to provide a padlock wherein the shackle, mswhen in its locked position, is completely covered and enclosed by the body or case, except for the small portion thereof which passes through the` part or parts to be locked so that the part or parts to be locked cooperate with w `-the body or case to prevent access to the shackle. Se Another object of this invention is to provide a padlock which may be snapped shut and locked by merely pushing in the projecting end of the shackle' until it rests flush with the adjacent wall ofthe body or case.

% Another object of the invention is to provide a padlock so constructed that the'component parts are assembled with the body or case lwithout the necessity for exposed screws, rivets or pins susceptible to removal, and which is so constructed'that onlyY through the actuation of the key controlled lock is it possible to release the shackle.

With the above and other objects in view which `will appear as the description proceeds, this in- Jevention resides i-n the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafter described and more particularly dened by the appended claims, it being under- 3 lstood 'that such changes in the precise embodidment of 'the hereindisclosed invention Ymaybe made as come within the scope of the claims."

The accompanying drawing illustrates several complete examples of the physical embodiment of the inventionV constructed according to 'the best modes so far devised for the practical application of the principles thereof, and in which:

Figure l is a section view of the padlock with` the shackle in its open or unlocked position; ""lock;

Figure 3 is a front view of the structure shown in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a View illustrating the use of an ladapter to adapt the padlock to parts of larger dimensions than the capacity of the padlock;

'Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 illustrating another form of adapter; and

`Figure 6 is a perspective View of the adapter shownhin Figure 5,

Figure 2 illustrates one manner of using the' Referring now particularly to the accompanying drawing in which like numerals designate like parts throughout the several views, the numeral 5 represents the body or case of the padlock, which is'preferably formed from one solid block 5 of metal.

Extending into the body or case from one edge is an open slot or recess 6, the opposite side Walls of which are spaced apart a distance sufcient to receive the part or parts to be locked. Intersectingthis slot is a bore l, the inner end portion 8 of which is on one side of the slot 6, and its open ended outer portion 9 on the opposite side.v The latter open ended portion 9 of the bore' is counterbored to define a shoulder I0 adjacent to the slot.

Slidable in the bore l is a shackle II having an outer portion I2 of enlarged diameter to fit the counterbore, and an inner end portion I3 adapted to extendV across the slot 6, passing through and locking the part or parts disposed in the slot.` f f An expansile spring I4 conned between the shoulder I0- at the bottom of the counterbore and-the shoulder I5 at the juncture of the two diameters of the shackle, yieldingly urges the shackle outwardly of its bore. The spring propelled motion of the shackle is limited by a stop I6, secured in the body'or case and engaging in a longitudinal groove I1 in the side of the shackle. The stop `I6 may be screwed in place to facilitate assembly or, if desired, may consist merely of a pin having a driving t with a hole opening tothe counterbore.

The length of the shackle is such that when it is fpushed in against the action of its spring toits locked position, extending across the slot, its outer end is substantially flush with the adjacent surface of the body or case.

Upon being pushed into its locked position, 0

' a spring urged latch I8 automatically engages inV akeeper recess I9` formed in the inner end ofthe shackle to secure the shackle against retraction toV its open position. This latch I8 isslidably disposed in a passageway 20, formed 45 transversely in the body or case and intersecting the innerend portion of the shackle bore. One end of this passage is permanently closed by the solid metall of the body or case and its other end is plugged as at 2l after proper assembly Vof the parts.

An expansion spring 22 yieldingly projects the latch tol its operative position from which it is retractable only through` the operation of a key controlled lock 23. VThe lock 23 is of the con- 55 ventional type 'comprising 'a cylinder 24 rotatably mounted in a bore 25 in the body or case with an integral projection 26 on its inner end extending to the passage 20. At the extremity of the extension 2E, an eccentrically located driving cam 21 projects to a recess 28 in the latch so that upon rotation ofthe lock cylinder the latch may be retracted against the action of its spring to free the shackle.

Any suitable means may be provided for se. curing the plug or cylinder in place and in the present instance a retaining member 29 carried by the cylinder engages in an annular groove l30 in open communication with the bore 25.

The usual tumblers 3| are mounted in thecylinder to engage ina tumbler groove and secure the cylinder against rotation except when the tumblers are retracted by the insertion Y of a proper key 32.

The rotation of the cylinder can be limited in any 'suitablemannen and in this instance by having the inner'end of the latch I8 strike the tip of a spring centering pin 33.

As hereinbefore stated the part or parts to be locked are disposed in the open slot or recess 6 with the shackle passing therethrough. A conventional application or use of the padlock is illustrated in Figures Zand 3 where the hasp 34 of a hinge type door fastening 35 is received in the slot with the shackle passing therethrough.

It will be noted'that when in use the shackle of theV padlock is substantially completely concealed and'protected against the attacks of destructive tools.y AsideV from the relatively small Y and invulnerable part of the shackle which is used in pressing the same to its closed ,or locked position, only that portion of the shackle that eX- tends across the open slot or recess is unprotected by the body or case of the padlock and this, portionl is substantially entirely covered by the part or parts disposed in the open slot or recess.

Consequently, it is impossible to sawgle, chisel or in any other Way apply destructive force tothe shackle for the purpose of defeating the lock.

While the use of the padlock per se is restricted as to the thickness of the part or parts to which it may be applied, Yadapters suchv as illustrated in Figues 4, 5and 6 may be employed to permit the lock to be used in instances where the :ac-

tual members to be locked are of such dimensions l as to preclude their being received in the slot of the padlock body.

The adapter illustrated inY Figure 4 consists of a length'of steel cable 36 to the ends of which eyes 31 are secured. The openings in the eyes 31 are of a size to permit the passage of the shackle therethrough, and in use the steelcable is threadedr through the parts tobe locked together as is clearly shown in Figure 4.

The adapter illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 comprises two substantiallyvsimilar strap members 38'having flanges 39 apertured as at 40 to receive the shackle Il. The opposite ends of the -fistrap members are provided Wthran interengagingY connection 4l, which forms substantially a hinge and remains secure as long as the anged ends of the straps are held relatively close tov gether, as by being confined in the slot 6.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying Ydrawing it will be readily apparent to those skilledy in theVr art that this invention provides a substantial improvement Y.in the construction Vof padlocks vand that it adds materially to the security' of the lock by'sub- Ybetween which a part or parts to be locked are receivable, a shackle movable in the body to and Vfrom a locked position extending across the space between said spaced portions so as to pass through.

the part or parts to be locked whereby the active Y portion, of the Vshackle is substantially entirely covered by the part or parts to be locked to pre- Y yvent access to said active portion of the shackle,

a spring to yieldingly urge the shackle to an unlocked position, a spring urged latch slidable end- Wise into interlocking engagement with the shackle to holdthe same in its locked position, and key controlled means for retracting the V spring urged latch to free the shackle for spring actuated movement to its unlocked position.

2. A padlock comprising a solid block-like body having an open slot extending in from one side edge thereof and having a bore open at one end intersecting said slo-t, a second bore parallel to the rst bore inwardly `oi the bottom of lthe slot and a transverse passage intersecting both of said bores, a shackle slidable in the first boreto and from a locked position extending across the open slot, spring means yieldingly urging theV shackle out through the open `end of the bore so that the shackle is movable to its operative locked position by the application of an inward force on its projecting end, a spring urged latch movable in the transverse passage and engageable with the,

shackle to secure the same in its locked position,kl and lkey controlled locking means in the otherbore having operative connection with the spring urged latch for retracting the same to free the shackle. f y

so f. s

3. A padlock comprising a solidnblocklike body* Y having a slot extending in from one side edge thereof and having a two diameter bore. Open at its large diameter end and having its small diameter end portion intersected by the slot, the body also having a transverse passage intersecting the small diam-eter end portion of the bore, a two diameter shackle slidable in the bore, a coil spring encircling the small diameter end portion of the shackle and confined between the .shoulders formed at the junctions of the' two diameters of A the bore and the shackle to'yieldingly urge the shackle out through the open endV of the bore, means to limit the spring propelled movement of the shackle, said shackle being depressible to project its small diameter end portion across the slot and opposite the transverse passage, a spring urged latch slidable in said transverse passage and engageable with the small diameter end portion of the shackle to secure the same inV locked position, and key controlled means for retracting the spring urged latch. l

4. A padlock comprising Va solid block-like body Vhaving a slot' extending in from onerside edge thereof and having a two diameter bore open at its large diameter end and having its small dameter end portion intersected by the slot, the body also `having a transverse passage intersecting the small diameter end portion of the bore, a two diameter shackle slidable in the bore, a coil spring encircling the small diameter end portion of the shackle and conned betweenthe shoulders formed at the junctions of the two diameters rof the bore and the shackle to yieldingly urge the shackle out through the open end of the bore, common means for limiting the spring propelled movement of the shackle and for holding the shackle against turning, the small diameter end portion of the shackle having a notch, and the shackle being depressible to project its notched end portion opposite the transverse passage, a latch slidable in said passage, a spring yieldingly urging the latch toward the bore to snap into the notch in the shackle, and key controlled means for retracting the latch to free the shackle for spring propelled movement to unlocked position.

5. A padlock comprising a solid block-like body having a slot extending in from one side edge thereof and having atWo diameter bore open at its large diameter end and having its small diameter end portion intersected bythe slot, the body also having a transverse passage intersecting the small diameter end portion of the bore, and another bore parallel to the first and opening to the transverse passage, a two diameter shackle encircling the small diameter end portion of the shackle and confined between the shoulders form-ed at the junctions of the two diameters of the bore and the shackle to yieldingly urge the shackle out through the open end of the bore, means for limiting the spring propelled movement of the shackle, said shackle having a notch in its small diameter end portion and being depressible to dispose its notched portion opposite the transverse passage, a spring urged latch slidabl-e in said passage to engage in the notch of the shackle and to hold the same in its locked position, and a key controlled lock cylinder disposed in the second named bore and having an eccentric driving connection with the spring urged latch for retracting the same to free the shackle.

BERNARD s. ALK. 

